Ashcraft writes that this team’s show of gratitude has been well-received by baseball fans around Japan.

“Online in Japan, many people praise [Noshiro Shoyo]’s actions, saying they took defeat with honor. ‘I have such deep respect for this team,’ wrote Twitter user baseball319_t. Another Twitter user wrote that this was [the] ‘most polite team’ around.”

Thanking your fans is very polite. It’s also a good way to catch an illness if you’re doing it in the rain for extended time.

I doff my cap to these young men and their appreciation for fans. Now, dry off and break some bats. That’s the real chicken soup for the defeated soul.